Razor conditioner



July 13, 1954 R. o. NUSS RAZOR CONDITIONER Filed Feb. 2, 1953 .n on

FIG-2 INVENTOR.

Reinhold O. Nuss BY ,EZZ ham,

Patented July 13, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RAZOR CONDITIONER Reinhold 0. Nuss, Spokane, Wash.

Application Februray 2, 1953, Serial No. 334,388

Claims.

This invention is a conditioner for cutting edges such as is common to a straight-edge razor.

One object of the invention lies in the provision of a conditioner which will very effectively condition the cutting edge of a straight-edge razor or similar article with a minimum amount of effort.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a conditioner which uses a mild steel plate having a plane polished upper face upon which the cutting edge of an implement may be conditioned.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a mild steel conditioning plate carried by a base and united therewith by means of a resilient layer interposed the plate and base and adhesively secured thereto.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a conditioner including a mild steel plate having a body hardness selected from a group within the Brinell hardness scale ranging from 101 through 14:0.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a conditioner which is inexpensive to manufacture and which is not liable to become inoperative by much use.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred.

embodiment of my improved conditioner showing a straight-edge razor associated therewith in full line and the method of sharpening indicated by full and dotted arrows; and

Figure 2 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical cross section taken through the conditioner.

The present invention is applicable to sharpening knives and other shearing or cutting implements and even though I limit my description of the invention as it relates to sharpening straightedge razors, it is not my intention to unduly restrict the scope of my patent to any particular use and I desire to secure my invention for any and all uses of which it is susceptible.

It is the present practice of those who sharpen straight-edge razors and similar implements to use carborundum blocks or other fine abrasives for honing the edge of the razor.

In the instance of knives and the like, it is sometimes the practice to use a metallic file for sharpening the edge, but where itis desired to have a truly fine or sharp cutting edge, honing and stropping is the accepted practice.

The most common hone known to me is one defined as being approximately 118 grit, where the finest hone to my knowledge is 159 grit. A razor after being honed on one of these hones can never be immediately used for shaving, but must be stropped by applying each side of the cutting edge to a strop twelve to fifteen strokes. Even with these time-consuming and arduous tasks, the cutting edge of the razor is not as sharp as is desirable nor as sharp as is possible.

Another objection to the present day hones is that the pores of the hones fill up with steel from the razor and the cutting quality is thereby changed, making it impossible for the one honing the razor to determine the amount he has honed the edge without microscopic inspection.

My present invention avoids these defects and provides a conditioner which when properly used will condition the blade edge of a straight-edge razor so that without stropping it may be used for shaving.

As indicated in the drawing, the conditioner comprises a plate It which is approximately two inches by four inches in plan and one-fourth of an inch thick. The plate is mild steel, the analysis of which is not of great importance; however, in the models I have made and tested the carbon content of the mild steel was from 18% to 20%. I do not wish to be limited by this disclosure since the important feature required in the steel is its relative degree of hardness, not necessarily its carbon content. I have found the steel having a hardness approximately No. 120 in the Brinell scale as being the most effective for conditioning the edge of a razor; however, steels within the Brinell scale in a group ranging from 101 through will function to a greater or lesser degree. I

The thickness of the mild steel plate It is of little consequence relative to the conditioning surface I l except that it is required that the surface be planished and it must be of a true unvarying plane. For this reason I have found that a quarter-inch plate effectively prevents warping of the surface I i and for economic reasons is most acceptable for this invention. However, a thinner plate may be employed if it is suitably reinforced to prevent the surface I I from becoming uneven.

As shown in the drawing, the plate H3 is supported by a base I2 indicated'to be of a synthetic resin material. The base may be formed of wood or other relatively light-weight material which will provide adequate thickness to the conditioner manipulation, since it is anticipated that a cona ditioner of this type will be used in barber shops as well as in other shops and homes.

The conditioner undoubtedly will be placed upon a hard, unyielding surface and, therefore it is necessary that a resilient layer, indicated in general by the numeral 53, be interposed the plate iii and base l2. This may be done by vul r a layer of rubber It to the plate and seen ng ti rubber to the base i2 by means or" an adhesive agent 15, or an adhesive agent which includes a resilient body constituent may be used to secure the plate ID to the base 12, thus omitting the rubber layer 14.

In using my conditioner, a razor it or other cutting instrument having its edge in good shape; that is, without large nicks or dents, is placed upon the planished face H with its back is adjacent one end of the conditioner and p thereto and its edge e toward the oppose The razor is then drawn across the conditioner approximately a 45 angle with its edge e le The razor is then turned over so the oppo' to of the blade is placed upon the conditioner as shown in dotted lines and is moved as shown by the dotted arrows. This conditioning movement will be repeated from five to ten times, upon the previous condition or" the razor, which the razor may be immediately used for shaving. It does not injure the cutting edge to strop it after this conditioning action; however, this stropping improvement barely perceptible over the conditioned razor.

It is to be understood that no abrasive is used in the plate Iii and I assume that the reason for the improvement of the cutting edge the microscopic teeth present on every utting edge will be conditioned or straightened to the extent that they improve the cutting qualities of the razor above that which can be derived from honing and strapping.

razor conditioner comprising a plate of mild steel having a plane upper face; a thick relatively light weight base commensurate in plan dimension to the plate; a layer of rubber vulcanized to the lower face of said plate; and an adhesive agent tenaoiously uniting the base and layer.

5. A razor conditioner comprising a plate of nild steel substantially one-quarter of an inch In thickness; and a thick relatively light weight base adhesively secured to said plate by means of a ayer of an adhesive agent including a resilient body constituent.

neferences Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 29,336 Wood July 24, 1860 801,535 Mallory Oct. 10, 1905 1,30,658 Dion June 24, 1919 FOREIGN PATENTS l' un'ioer Country Date 27,145 Great Britain Feb. 18, 190% 

